Sliding gate



B. L. REX.

SLIDING GATE.

(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 30, 1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrce.

BENJAMIN L. REX, OF LOVETTSVILLE, VIRGINIA.

SLIDING GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 246,341, dated August30, 1881.

Application filed June 28, 1881.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN L. REX, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lovettsville, in the county of Loudoun and State ofVirginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SlidingGates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters or figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. 4

My invention relates to sliding gates, and lies in a simple, strong, andetficient construc tion of the hinge-roller, being a wheel within awheel, with adouble-cone periphery fitting into an annular V-shapedgroove in the body of the roller.

The invention will be further understood as set forth in the followingspecification and claims.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification andillustrate the invention.

Figure 1 is an elevation of the gate. Fig. 2 is a transverse section ofthe gate on line as 00. Fig. 3 is a section of the hinge-roller. Fig. 4is a section of the equalizing-roller. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevationof the fastening device.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

A is the stationary rear post; A, the stationary frontpost. Into therear post, A, the eyebolt of the hinge-roller and the bolts or staplesfor swinging the brace are placed in the same vertical line.

B is the hinge-roller. It consists of the following mechanism: Twocircular pieces of cast metal are formed, with well-defined flanges onthe opposite edges of their peripheries, and have cast in their centers(reamed out or otherwise formed) a bevel hole of considerable diameter,in such a way as that when the parts are brought-together they form anopening with v a V-shaped annular groove in its circumference. B B arethe pieces; I), the groove formed by placing them together. The parts BB are adapted to encompass an interior core, 0, which conforms on itscircumference to the groove 1), said circumference being formed with adouble cone, having its sides at sutficient angle to fit (No model.)

snugly in the annular V-shaped groove 1), but with liberty to revolvetherein. The exterior face of the core 0 is coincident with thecorresponding face of the roller B, and offers no resistance to the easytravel of the gate upon the roller. The inner face of the core 0 isformed with a bold protuberance or swell, and isdeeply channeled out toreceive the eye end (I of the eyebolt D. The swell on the inner face ofthe core, when thus channeled, forms supports or bosses 0 G which,fitting closely but easily over the end of the eyebolt, prevent anymovement on said eyebolt, except in the line of the channel. The eyeboltis secured in the core 0 by means of a pin passing through holes in thecore and bolt at right angles to the channel. The channel is of suchform as to allow rocking motion to the roller on the eyebolt in the lineof said channel within wide limits, and gives all the swing which may inany case be required. By reason of the bosses O C and the peculiarformation of the double-cone periphery of the core fitting into theV-shaped annular groove 1) the roller is insured an easy rotary androcking action, while all play and ertical oscillation is effectuallyobviated and the roller held securely in a perpendicular position. Thedouble-cone periphery working in the V-shaped groove gives an easymovement ot'the core with the leastpossible friction. Only two surfacesare exposed to contact, while if the core were made in the form of anordinary wheel, three sides would receive friction and consequently theaction of the roller would be proportionately harder. The bosses O 0hold the eyebolt D securely and relieve the strain from the pin. Theyallow the roller to swing on the eyebolt freely, but at all times form asupport for the eyebolt.

The eyebolt D may be cut away to some extent near the eye end d, inorder to enlarge the field of motion of the hinge-roller thereon; but itis preferable to have the core of sufficient diameter and the channeltherein of sufficient length and proper form to give the required actionwithout abstracting anything from the size and strength of the eyebolt.

E E are the upper and lower arms of the brace. At their juncture theysupport the steadying and equalizing roller F, which lies, between anytwo of the gateslats. The upper arm, E, is formed of an iron rod, and isdivided at mid-length and provided with screwthreads. A turn-buckle, e,engages with the threaded ends, and has provisions for being turned totake up the slack and prevent the gate from sagging by making the upperarm shorter. The lower brace, E, is preferably of wood of some strongtough character, and has metal sockets e e at either end, which haveterminations e e. The end e rests and turns in the staple g, and therear end of the arm E in the staple 9. These staples gg are placed inthe stationaryrear post, on the same corner as the eyebolt D of theroller B. The post A is suitably cutormortised to receive the stapleswithout allowing them to project, and it is also grooved to accommodatethe arms when the gate is turned. The staples are so placed in order tobring the strain on the rollers B F consequent upon the weight of thesustained gate in the same direct line, avoiding all twist and lateralstrain upon the rollers, and insuring an easy action of the gatebackward and forward thereon.

The mortising and grooving of the post are done to keep the arms out ofthe way, ofl'ering no possible obstacle to the movement of the gate overthe rollers nor when swung around.

The end 0 of brace E passes through the roller F and constitutes theaxis thereof; or the end of the socket a may be flattened and providedwith a hole to receive an independent pin, which takes the place of theaxis 0 The socket e is also provided with a loop, 0 formed to receivethe hook e of the outer end of the rod E.

It is important to have the sockets project but little beyond the end ofthe arm, in order to avoid leverage thereon and consequent strain.

Ur is the gate, having any desired number of slats. The rear swingingand center posts are cut away between each slat and for a sut ficientdistance under them to allow the gate to pass freely over the flanges ofthe rollers. The rollers are made. to run between the slats, and theirflanges overlap the edges thereof.

The gate is placed in position by simply sliding it over the rollers,and as the posts are so mortised between the slats as to receive therollers, it is evident that the gate may be made to assume any height bymerely placing it so that the rollers come between a different pair ofslats. It will also be seen that the gate is entirely independent in thematter of removal and replacement of any other portion of the structure,and that it can be removed and replaced without disturbing any of theparts. It is also apparent that by reason of both the center and rearswinging posts of the gate being cut away to receive the rollers thelength of the arms E E may be indefinitely varied, and that the gate canbe relied upon to swing without being supported, whether it is rolledback so as to be balanced on the hinge-roller or not. This is a greatadvantage in this class of gates, particularly when they are used topass through by persons on foot or horseback, and when it is not desiredto open them to their full extent. It in effect gives this gate all theadvantages of an ordinary swinging gate, and at the same time addssuperiority to it as a sliding gate. The adaptation of my gate to heslid over the rollers to any desired distance, to have the arms of thebrace of any desired length, will readily approve itself in thisparticular. The upper slat is extended beyond the front post, and whenthe gate is closed engages in a mortise in the front stationary post, A.This mortise preferably has its sides beveled to receive the extendedslat easily. In addition to this fastening, I have provided a hand-hold,0, in the upperslat, and a spring, 8, with a downwardly projectingpoint, 8. Into the front stationary post, A, a piece of metal, t, isdriven, which extends out in abroadened plate, sloping downward infront, and provided with a hole to receive the points of the springswhen the gate comes in contact with the front post, A. By this means asecure fastening is effected, and one which is easily operated. .Atthebottom ot'the front stationary post, A, cleats a [t are attached farenough apart to receive the lower front corner of the gate when theupper slat is brought into the mortise near the top of the post. Thissteadies the lower part of the gate and keeps it secure.

Having thus described my invention, I desire to claim and secure byLetters Patent 1. In combination with the supporting-roller F, thebraces E E, the latter having its socket extended to form the axis ofsaid roller, and provided with a loop adapted to receive an eye formedat the end of the adjustable rod or brace E, as set forth.

2. The hinge-roller described, consisting of the two parts B 13 providedwith a central annular V-shaped groove formed by placing the two partstogether, and a core fitting into the V-shaped groove with a double-coneperiphery, and provided with the bosses G 0 between which the eyebolt Dworks, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I attix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN L. REX.

Viitnesses:

WILLIAM P. HILLEARY, V. R. OHINN.

